A few weeks ago we did a tour in Thailand with our 9 year old son. During the preparation of our trip we found a lot of information and good tips on your blog. As a thank you and to help other travelers we would like to share our experiences and findings with your visitors.
Here are some tips and experiences:
- upon our arrival in Bangkok we were immediately scammed by a taxi driver who not only asked too much for the ride but also did an exchange trick, my wife gave 1000 baht and he claimed it was 100 baht.
- on departure from Bangkok we walked past “Grand Palace”, we had to undergo passport control, our luggage was also checked. The police officer took a deck of cards from my backpack and confiscated them. It wasn't until I protested and asked "Why?" he returned the game cards. Very strange experience. Is the police in Thailand also corrupt?
- we did the trip to Kanchanaburi by train from Bangkok Thonburi train station. dirt cheap and a blissful experience. You have a good view of the real Thailand from the open window… moreover, local vendors jump on the reins with drinks and Thai food.
- floating market in Damnoen Saduak was a big disappointment. Really not recommended to visit. You pay 2000 baht for an hour boat and they sail with you to stalls where they have their %. Everything is mega expensive. It's one big commerce. Nothing authentic anymore. You hardly see the local boats that you see on photos there. Not recommended! Apparently the floating market in Amphawa would be much better, is only 15km away, but only on weekends.
- We also took the train to Hua hin, slow but fun.
- in Hua Hin "monkey island" (temple Island) is definitely recommended to visit.
- the new ferry from Hua Hin to Pattaya is definitely recommended. Everything correct, in English, fast and punctual. (2h)
- the transfer by boat from Ban Phe was very chaotic. We immediately realized that something was not right. Our taxi dropped us near Nuanthip pier.
- The ticket sellers were not friendly and pushy. Only return tickets were also sold at 200bat/person. So we paid 600 bat for the three of us, but could not go to any boat with our ticket. There was also no one on the quay to ask for information. When we returned to the ticket office we were taken away by tuk-tuk to another quay about 500m away. We were allowed to board a small fishing boat, the skipper did not even look at our tickets. When we were on the boat, the lady at the counter paid 100 bat to the skipper. We felt cheated again. On our return journey a few days later, it turned out that our return ticket was indeed worthless. We had to buy a new ticket at the normal price, namely 50 baht/pers.
Finally, a summary of a number of things that struck us as newcomers to Thailand:
- Beer is quite expensive everywhere: coke 25 baht, beer 100 baht.
- Lots of dirt along the road.
- Many cats and dogs, the animals are very calm, no barking, no aggression.
- What Westerners load on a truck is loaded on a pickup in Thailand, and what we load on a car is loaded on a moped in Thailand.
- Mosquito repellents with Deet are very hard to find in supermarkets.
- Many young people still barely speak English, even in very touristic areas.
- Transport by train is real travel, some journeys take extremely long, for example Pattaya-Bangkok (4,5 hours).
- Watch out for scammers, many taxi drivers also refuse to use their taximeter.
- Bargain Bangkok: -50%, Bargain Kanchanaburi: -20%.
- Hardly any western toilets to be found.
- Footpaths are unusable for pedestrians (stalls, container park, garage, parked cars…
- Police have little authority at crossings.
Thanks again for all the tips!
Submitted by Frederik from Belgium
Eea doesn't sound positive to me. Seems like too much cheating to me.
Probably in some scam cases that you were warned in advance. Don't worry, it still happens to us after 25 years. Yet it still remains our beloved holiday destination for us.
I don't know whether you were unlucky or whether as an inexperienced tourist you are more likely to be scammed these days. I have been coming to Thailand for more than 10 years, about 3 times a year, and have only experienced once that a taxi driver did not want to turn on his meter. Maybe it helps if you can speak a few words of Thai and people have the feeling that you live here. In most major tourist cities in the world you have to be careful when taking a taxi or exchanging money or buying a ticket. Statistically speaking, things aren't too bad in Thailand. But it remains to be alert. Know what the local prices are, and be aware of possible scams. Fortunately, you also experienced many wonderful moments.
I also want to go to Kanchanaburi in February. Did you buy the tickets at the station? And what time does the train leave? Thanks in advance for the response. Jan.
everywhere, is an explanation for..
Beer is quite expensive everywhere; coke 25 baht, beer 100 baht. supermarket, bar?
Lots of dirt along the road; That's right, it's better organized here (but you also pay a lot for that!)
Many cats and dogs, the animals are very calm, no barking, no aggression; does this bother you more (how would you react if there was a string or chain around your neck)
What Westerners load on a truck is loaded on a pickup in Thailand, and what we load on a car is loaded on a moped in Thailand; This is also possible here, but the police here are “afraid” of papers with numbers on them..
Mosquito repellents with Deet are very hard to find in supermarkets; here too, if the tiger mosquito is more common than it is, and here the priorities are different what you do with your money.
Many young people still barely speak English, even in very touristic areas; it is not in the standard education system (we don't have it, the Thai have NO have…)
Transport by train is real travel, some journeys take extremely long, eg Pattaya-Bangkok (4,5 hours); the Thai generally have plenty of time (the Thai meet AT the mall, and then call / look for each other, we specifically agree on a place IN the mall)
Watch out for scammers, many taxi drivers also refuse to use their taximeter; you will be less bothered by this, but when you arrive at Schiphol, there are also plenty…)
Bargain Bangkok: -50%, Bargain Kanchanaburi: -20%; Unfortunately you don't have this here (I try it often) that's why I buy from aliexpress, then I don't need a discount anymore….
Hardly any western toilets to be found; in tourist areas SAT! (iid out there in the countryside none)
Footpaths are unusable for pedestrians (stalls, container park, garage, parked cars…) ; you have this a lot in Asian countries, this makes it typically Asian again. (if it was the same everywhere, why go on vacation?)
Police have little authority over crossings; you can't earn anything from that.
All in all, I hope you enjoyed it and next time book a holiday with a guarantee that everything is perfectly arranged for you.
I don't know what tips you all got, but they weren't that good.
By the way, I don't really recognize all those scams myself; I only hear about it.
And it strikes me that after 25 years of Thailand I only come across western toilets.
“Mosquito sprays with Deet are very difficult to find in supermarkets.” ??
You can find them in every 7/11 and Tesco, including the brand "Soffell" ... they are listed with insecticides and not with eg. care items..
In which country you will not be scammed the first time you come. Once you've been there, you know what to expect.
We are going to Thailand for the 5th time in December and this time for 3 months. If you look through everything, it's just a beautiful country. And just like in the Netherlands you also have bastards why should this be different??
Few people know, but playing cards are indeed prohibited in Thailand unless they have a Thai hallmark.
Damnoen Saduak is indeed a tourist scam, I have warned about it many times. Amphawa is indeed much cozier,
Now I only pay 200 Baht for a paddle boat in Damnoen Saduak, also for 1 hour.
I really wonder where you stayed and visited that Julie found almost no western toilette. Squat toilets are almost an exception in and around Bangkok.
I have the impression that you have only visited the tourist hotspots with the usual tourist scams, but not the Thailand where I live. and tour.
Hallo,
Didn't read everything well and check done on the internet.
I think you guys would have definitely been 99% positive. Train takes a long time you could have checked.
Taxi extensively described not a meter out coke 25 baht is not too bad toilet take take a fast food chain almost always clean and a western toilet and I can go on and on.
Hope that your view of Thailand is positive on this beautiful country.
Well, it has been warned very often: Always have the meter on in the taxi, or a fixed price for long distances, if you google you know what it should cost. As for the 1000 baht exchange trick: it only happens once. When it happened to me I got so furious that I flew straight over the stall at the scammer, then it was quickly over. Since then always say loud and clear: Pan baht, or Thousand baht, holding up the note. Foreign playing cards, and having multiple decks is forbidden in Thailand, as it indicates gambling game. So that officer was in his right, you were lucky not to get a fine. A large group of foreign elderly people were arrested last year and fined for playing cards. Incidentally, the police in Thailand are indeed very corrupt.
It is not: “the Thai still speak little English”, but the Thai speak little English. They don't need any because 95% of the Thai never leave Thailand. In addition, Russian, and in recent years Chinese are much more important in the tourist industry.
As for monkeys and dogs, I cannot fail to point out the danger of contracting rabies. So never feed or pet, a wet nose or a scratch can be enough.
Finally: Crosswalks are parts of the street where the Thai do their best to hit you. as a pedestrian you are simply a shot game.
I disagree about crossing the road. Practically every time I want to cross, someone stops and waves me over. Even witnessed a 10 wheeler stop to give me the opportunity to cross. Also experienced in Pattaya on 2nd Rd that a song thaew stopped in front of mii so I could cross. The Thai is even very helpful, polite and friendly. 41 yrs here.
'Upon arrival in Bangkok, a taxi driver immediately asked for too much.' I assume that was on Suvarnabhumi. I also agree that he prefers not to turn on the meter, but then we always agree on the price. If he asks too much and doesn't want to go down, you just push that yellow laminated card under his nose that also has prizes on it. And otherwise get a new taxi ticket.
And then the 1000 Baht 'trick'. Has never happened to me, anywhere. I can't imagine how something like that happens in a taxi. Suppose it is 1300 Baht, then you count: please, 1000, 1100,1200,1300, XNUMX, XNUMX.
And if it is 600, you first show 1000 and ask if he can switch.
At least give the impression that your mind is on the payment, and don't carelessly slip him a note, maybe that will help.
If I want to pay for my bin in a bar, I first calculate in my head how much it should be together. I enter that amount on my phone, or scribble it on the back of a felt pad. Only then can they calculate how much it is. I thereby create the appearance that I want to show how well I can do mental arithmetic, but I think it also works preventively in passing. If they have a tendency to make mistakes every now and then, they might not do that with such a strange chap.
Paying is serious business. If they realize that you are not there with your thoughts, the temptation can become too great.
Playing cards are indeed forbidden. If you get it back, a small bribe is actually in order.
Trains with open windows don't have air conditioning, so I think that's third class and dirt cheap indeed, but too warm for me.
Whether you pay 2000 Baht for a one-hour boat trip on a floating market is up to you. For 50 euros I can sail around the Netherlands for half a day, so it must be too expensive. Then don't.
In the tourist areas, I think Asian toilets are more of a sight than Western ones these days
Deet at every Familymart/7-eleven.
All in all, 'swindled' for a few tenners, a bit of a hassle with a boat ticket, and a disappointing floating market.
What I actually miss is how you experienced all this now. Do you say: Never again, or: Next time again and then we pay even more attention?
If a taxi driver refuses to turn on his meter (usually because it is broken) we prepare to get out. Then he taps his meter and voila he does it again haha.
I think if you had prepared the trip better and obtained more information from the internet, you would have had less negative experiences. in every country you have negative experiences. just take a look at the eastern bloc countries, or even southern europe. In Venice you will also be ripped off in life. And then suddenly they don't speak English anymore. As for the floating market, I have to agree with you. is a scammer. But you could have read that on the internet as well. nowadays you can read so many travel experiences that people already know the country before you have been there. When we first came in 97, we still had to discover everything ourselves. and have also had some negative experiences. But we also learn from that
I get the idea that you are comparing Thailand with Belgium and that seems to me to be a bad start.
You go to Thailand because it is different and for some adventure.
You will be scammed everywhere if you are not very alert and it usually happens to you once.
I've been coming in for 21 years and here and there they try something but with all the warnings on the internet nobody should fall for this anymore.
A Thai always asks: first time Thailand and then you always have to say: no manny times.
Otherwise it's a free letter to scam you.
Think of it as a game.
Thailand is a super country with nice people and everywhere in the world there are people who have less good intentions.
Possibly buy mousti mug in Belgium from the pharmacist with I think 30 or 50% deet. Pharmacies in Thailand sell mosquito repellents as well as jaico with 24% deet. This is the same as mousti mug and original from Belgium. The latter is not available everywhere. As for the beer. In February I paid 90 bath for 630cc chang beer in a restaurant on Ao Nang Beach Krabi. Singha is slightly more expensive and often only 500cc. If you drink beer in a café or bar it is pricey, but be careful and you will pay less than 100 bath for a large bottle. As for taxis. Take official taxis at the airport and demand that the meter is used, otherwise open the door and get out. From Pattaya to Bangkok or vice versa I take the taxi for 1100 bath to the city with MR.T. tollway included and don't worry about paying more.
Well that doesn't sound positive, just a few comments.
Finally, a summary of a number of things that struck us as newcomers to Thailand:
Beer is quite expensive everywhere: coke 25 baht, beer 100 baht.
That depends, in the tourist places in the tourist business you spend more money on this kind of business, just like in any holiday country. Renting, consumption of water/electricity, other costs are also higher there. If you go for a drink at the local restaurants / drinking establishments, you will pay a lot cheaper than in your own country. If you go to eat and drink in the super luxury restaurants or hotels, you will even lose a lot.
Lots of dirt along the road.
Yes, in some places that does indeed happen, unfortunately, more and more awareness is being worked on, but this takes time. Thailand is well on its way, especially compared to many other Eastern countries, but as said, this is a process that needs more time. much has already been improved, but not everywhere.
Many cats and dogs, the animals are very calm, no barking, no aggression.
What Westerners load on a truck is loaded on a pickup in Thailand, and what we load on a car is loaded on a moped in Thailand.
This is an observation that you have not had any further problems with. Like in the Netherlands, you have loiterers or scooter riders on the bike path, to name but a few.
Mosquito repellents with Deet are very hard to find in supermarkets.
These are available in every supermarket, but perhaps not the brand that people are used to.
Many young people still barely speak English, even in very touristic areas.
That's the charm of going on vacation. They speak a different language. It would make it easy or even better if they speak Dutch
Transport by train is real travel, some journeys take extremely long, for example Pattaya-Bangkok (4,5 hours).
You can look up travel time in advance, domestic flights, on the other hand, are dirt cheap and of course much faster if you find the train journey too slow. There are no high-speed trains here (yet).
Watch out for scammers, many taxi drivers also refuse to use their taximeter.
True in every country where you go on holiday, for example also in Spain, Barcelona, to name a few, you should always be wary of scammers and taxi drivers.
Bargain Bangkok: -50%, Bargain Kanchanaburi: -20%.
Traveled a lot around the world and often had to haggle, it's not my thing either, so either don't buy or buy in stores.
Hardly any western toilets to be found.
They are certainly to be found and even many and often in every corner. Often they are standing toilets on one side and Western toilets on the other. Just push against a few doors to see which toilet is behind which door.
Footpaths are unusable for pedestrians (stalls, container park, garage, parked cars…
That's right, all those stalls also have their charm, sometimes parts of a city are just like one big market, people here have not (yet) eaten cheese from beautiful, wide sidewalks or shopping boulevards. It's all nice and Asian messy.
For additional information:
In Bangkok you will also find the most luxurious shopping malls, the Netherlands can still take advantage of that. The Netherlands is still in its infancy when it comes to luxury shopping centers in BKK.
Card games are prohibited, which is associated with gambling.
@ Frederik from Belgium,
I am extremely grateful for your feedback, which I really appreciate! They are the 'facts' as you have actually experienced them. We can learn a lot from that. Thank you for your effort!
Hello Fact Tester…. One more question about my question??? I also want to go to Kanchanaburi in February, did you buy the tickets at the station? And what time does the train leave? Thanks in advance for the response. Jan.
Dear Jan, you suggest that Frederik from Belgium and I traveled (together). Why "you"? I don't even know that Frederik. Moreover, my reaction to Frederik's posting was not negative at all. On the contrary. Read better, Jan.
And what time does the train leave? Why are you asking that question on this blog and not to the Thai Railways?
I don't know why there is such a negative response, but I read it as your experiences and observations, both positive and negative points. I also experience the same with every trip to Thailand and “learn” every year. Wishing you many more years of holiday fun!
I think they mean that soft drinks are so cheap in Thailand, but beer is not? but not that they think it is too expensive. I have thought this myself, in comparison it is actually not too bad, but because soft drinks are often just as expensive as beer in many countries and in Thailand the soft drinks are dirt cheap, even in restaurants (hotels are expensive). I mean a coke for 20 to 30 baht for 0,33 liters, it always amazes me how that is possible?
It is often the case that no matter which country you go to, you have to look for where and what is best to do. And the second time you know more. none of this will happen to you again.
Oh and sometimes it's pretty funny too.